Improvement in cheek-pieces for bridle-bits



W. P. WOLFINGTON.

Cheek Piece for Br idle Bits Patented Feb. 27,1872

mentor. 7 L

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM P. WOLFINGTON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO J. J. HARBISON AND J. B. GATHBIGHT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHEEK-PIECES FOR BRlDLE-BITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,187, dated February 27, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

Be it known that I, WM. P. WOLFINGTON,

of the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson, State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bits for Bridles; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification. The object of my invention is to provide a bit for bridles which shall haveits cheek-pieces so constructed that the straps of the bridle may be securely attached to the bit without sewing, riveting, or buckling, but simply by the arran gem ent herein described. It consists in providing the cheek-pieces of a bridlebit with loops or frames having cross-bars constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents the cheek of a curb or post bit, with the eye or loop-hole at the top for the cheek-strap and the ring at the lower end of the rein, as in common use. Fig. 2 represents the same style of bit, constructed with my improvement.

1t will be seen that the improvement is applicable to any style of bit, and consists in providing the bit, at the points where the straps are to be attached, with three bars, A, B, and F, parallel to each other, and far enough apart to allow the strap to be passed between them in the manner hereinafter described. The strap is secured by passing the short endi. 0., the end we wish to fastenaround the bar A, over the bar B, and under barF, or, in other words, the short end of the strap is passed in through the opening 0, back through opening D, and in again through opening E. The long end of the strap is then passed through opening E, under bar F, and drawn tight, when the short end will be found to be firmly held. By giving the bars A and B a triangular form, as in o the model, or, in other words, by beveling them in the direction in which the short end of the strap is passed in, these bars may be placed nearer each other, while at the same time this beveling gives a sharp under edge to A and a sharp upper edge to B, Whichmore surely prevents the strap from slipping. The rein-end of the bit is provided with a similar arrangement for securing the strap or end of the rein, and it may be a fixed part of the bit, as shown at upper end of the cheek-piece in the drawing and model; or it may be connected to the rest in a flexible manner, as shown at the lower end of the cheek in the drawing and model. The contrivance at upper end of the bit for securing the end of the strap may also have a flexible connection with the rest of the bit.

I am aware that this method of fastening a strap is not novel; but the adaptation and application of it to abridle-bit are new and useful, as it saves buckles, leather, and much labor. In fact, by using, in connection with my improved bit,'cheek-buckles substantially like that accompanying the model and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, or by using, instead of these buckles, a form of loop to connect the head and cheek-pieces of the bridle substanstantially like that shown in Fig. 5 of the draw ing, bridles may be made much more rapidly than by any process heretofore known, and it will not require the skill of regular workmen to make them.

The loop mentioned and shown in Fig. 5 has six cross-bars, three at each end, to secure the ends of two straps, on the same principle as hereinbefore described in the bit.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the strap after it is put in.

To satisfy such persons as may have doubts as to the security of the mode of fastening above described, a small point or tongue may be made to project from the bar A or the bar B, which shall penetrate a corresponding hole in the strap and prevent all possibility of slipping.

Having thus described my invention, with the means and manner of its successful operation, what I desire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, is

A bridle-bit, the cheek-pieces of which are supplied with loops or frames having crossbars A B constructed and arranged substan tially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM P. WOLFINGTON. Witnesses:

J os. B. GATHRIGHT, R. M. DENNIS. 

